The regionally-ranked Northwestern State soccer team used a pair of first half goals and a strong back line effort in the second half to earn a 3-1 victory against Alcorn State on Sunday afternoon to open NSU’s home season at the Demon Soccer Complex.
NSU (2-1-1) posted its second three-goal performance in four contests. Alcorn State dipped to 0-2 with its second 3-1 defeat.
“It feels great to win,” head coach Ian Brophy said. “We knew it was going to be a tough match, and it turned out to be true. We knew we were in for an all-day affair. I am proud of the group and the energy they fought with to come away with three points.”
The Demons received goals from their big trio of Emily Senatore, Hosane Soukou and Paige Baumgartner.
While the Lady Braves started strong with a shot by Grace Ambrose, who recorded a game-high seven shot attempts for Alcorn, NSU found the back of the net first.
After shots from Baumgartner and Soukou in the first five minutes missed their target, the pairing connected on the first goal of the game.
In the seventh minute, Dawson Marrs sent a lead feed to Soukou, who sent a cross in the box to Baumgartner, who sent it home in the bottom right corner of the goal to give NSU the first lead.
“When either one of us gets the ball, we’re (Soukou and Baumgartner) on the same page with our runs and passes,” Baumgartner said. “Whenever I am taking the ball, she is always there for it and our speed matches up well together and we have a really good connection in the final third.”
Alcorn knotted the score in the 20th minute, as it turned a turnover into a clean look and goal by Annick Zouma.
NSU had chances to re-capture the lead from Soukou and Ravina Sandhu before Senatore regained the advantage for the Demons.
Emily Gundin found a running Senatore down the middle of the field at the top of the box and Senatore did the rest. She booted a left-footed kick to the right side of the net, past a diving Maria Heuman.
NSU keeper Kennedy Rist made her biggest save after Alcorn State was fouled in the box, resulting in a penalty kick in the 54th minute. The visitors tried to score at the bottom right corner of the goal, but Rist was equal to the task, diving to stop it and keep the advantage.
“Alcorn is a really tough team,” Brophy said. “They had that period where they were on top of their game where they were creating chances and then we gave up that penalty kick. Kennedy showed up big. Not only on that, but some other saves she made as well. That penalty shot was obviously a big moment in the game, and it shows what a great keeper she is.”
The reigning SLC Goalkeeper of the Week stopped six shots overall.
After each team generated numerous scoring opportunities, Soukou delivered the knockout blow with a goal on a header off a corner kick in the 78th minute off a pass from Emma Pethel.
“Shout out to Emma, who sent a perfect ball in on the corner,” Soukou said. “The ball just went straight for my head, and I hit it, and it went in the goal. I was so happy to score and help the team win.”
NSU is next in action Sunday at Mississippi Valley State before coming back home for contests against Grambling (Sept. 4) and UL Lafayette (Sept. 7).
